Open Policy Making

Paul MaltbyDirector, Open Data and Government InnovationCabinet Office

Why Open Policy Making & why now

Civil Service Reform Plan – dual diagnostic on policy advice: • Drawn from too narrow a range of inputs

• Not designed with implementation in mind

Pace of change • Digital and data revolution

• Networked public and new forms of participation

• Emerging policy techniques

The Civil Service does not have monopoly on policy making

Open policy will become the default

2 Civil Service Reform – new policy models

What is Open Policy Making?

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Open Policy Making

1. Broadening the range of people we

engage

2. Using the latest analytical techniques

and knowledge

3. Taking an Agile, more iterative approach to

implementation

Civil Service Reform – new policy models

• User-led design• Behavioural

economics • Systems thinking• Data science• Wellbeing analysis• Evidence from What

Works centres

• Social media engagement

• Crowd sourcing • Collaborative policy

processes

• Prototyping and iterating

• Randomised control trials

• Scenario modelling

The open policy maker is:

Curious: challenging assumptions, willing to experiment

Networked and collaborative: humble about the role of the civil servant in the process

Digitally engaged

Open Policy has to be done within existing constraints

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Civil Service Reform – new policy models Policy context

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Informed policy making

Developing policy with users at the heart

Collaborative policy making

Open Policy Making mindset

Crowd sourcing: DfID Amplify Social media engagement: DEFRA and #LoveOurForests policy tweet-a-thon

Online collaboration and iteration: MOJ young people and Victim ‘s Code

Open data and new service development: FCO hackday

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1. Using digital to engage differently

Civil Service Reform – new policy models

Rigorous analysis: DEFRA EU Fisheries Policy

Use of behavioural insights: HMRC debt management

New trends, design thinking: UK Policy Lab

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2. Keeping up with new analytical tools

Civil Service Reform – new policy models

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3. Moving from policy ‘waterfall’ to Agile

e.g. Decc 2050 calculator

The Open Policy Making team networks reformers across Whitehall

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Embedding a credible change programme – making OPM the default

Celebrating best practice and enabling sharing of innovative approaches

Testing and incubating innovative approaches

Civil Service Reform – new policy models

Contestable Policy Fund: £500k Ministerial match fund to source external advice

The Government Innovation Group

The Open Policy Making team is part of the Cabinet Office Government Innovation Group, which looks to the space just outside government to:

• Activate those outside the state – citizens, businesses, charities, social enterprises - on social issues where there is common cause with government

• Bring cutting edge techniques into government – Departments can find out more via the Open Policy Making team

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Open DataData

ScienceWellbeing Analysis

Policy Lab

Social finance

Social Impact Bonds

Social Action &

volunteering

[Behavioural Insights]

Data sharing policy

Voluntary Sector

Support Team

Horizon scanning